This morning I birded around Lake Contrary, Muskrat Lake, Mud Lake, (former Horseshoe Lake), Sugar Lake and Bean Lake.
The recent freezing temperatures in the Saint Joseph area has sent the waterfowl in search of open water. The only waterfowl seen this morning were Canada Geese on the Missouri River, Snow Geese on the wing and some Mallards on Sugar Lake (Lewis and Clark SP).
I did see a few raptors. There were numerous Red-tailed Hawks and American Krestels, one adult Bald Eagle perched high in a tree on the Missouri River bank near Lake Contrary and one Sharp-shinned Hawk keeping the "dicky birds" on their toes at Georgia and Frances's cabin at Bean Lake.
Best bird of the day, well the two best birds of the day, were Ruby-crowned Kinglet (at Lake Contrary) and a female Spotted Towhee at aforementioned cabin at Bean Lake.
I did hit a spot on Mud Lake Road (Buchanan County) near Lewis and Clark SP where the sparrows were plentiful. Along this road in the weedy ditches I observed approx. 40 White-crowned Sparrows, 1 White-throated Sparrow, some Song Sparrows and the ubiquitous American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. At the Bean Lake cabin in addition to the towhee, was a Harris's Sparrow.
Western Meadowlarks were singing all around the Lake Contrary area.
Flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds were around and I saw one Brown-headed Cowbird.
Larry Lade
Saint Joseph, MO
Buchanan County
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